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(No Model.)

F. S. DIMON.

ARTIFICIAL FUEL.

No. 345,217. Patented July 6 1886.

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UNrren STATES FRANK S. DIMON, OF FORT SCOTT, KANSAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO BENJAMIN F. HEPLER, OF SAME PLACE.

ARTIFICIAL FUEL.

'JPECIFICA'EEON forming part of Letters Patent No. 345,217, dated July 6.13:6.

Arpli ation filed Mar 1123,1886. Serial No. 196.981. (No model.)

To all 1072/0711, it may concern:

Be it knownthat I, FRANK S. DIMON, a cilizen of the United Statcs,residing at Fort Scott, in the county of Bourbon and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Artificial Fuel; and I do hereby declare the followingto bea full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specificat-ion.

This invention relates to artificial fuel and fire-kindlers; and it consists in manufacturing an artificial fuel in blocks or lumps with a central core of fibrous material, the former being molded onto and around the latterfas hereinafter fully described and claimed.

The figure in the drawing shows a perspective view of sample of this artificial fuel and fire-kindler manufactured according to my invention.

This fuel can be used as asubstitute for fuel as commonly employed, as it will burn readily in any common heating or cooking stove, and does not give off any disagreeable smell while burning. It is specially intended for use in the western States, where firewood is scarce and expensive. =1

In carrying out my invention I first take a bunch of fibrous materialsuch as cornstal ks, hay or straw, sun-flowerstalks, or rosin-weed stalks-which bunch is to constitute the core ofa block of fuel, tied together, and dipped into hot coal-tar. Any fibrous material may be used; but cornstalks are to be preferred, as being a waste product that is usually raked up off the fields in spring-time and burned as rubbish.

The letter A in the drawing indicates the core of fibrous material. B is a mass of inflammable nature, formed by mixing together one part, by measure, of coal-dust or fine coal, two parts of turf, and a sufficient amount of hot coal-tar to form a solid mass when cold. The proportion of coal-dust and turf can be varied to suit the varying nature of those materials in different localities. common prairie-sod. which can be obtained very cheaply and in large quantities in the western States. This turfor sod is first cut with a turning-plow, and then cut crosswise into blocks of a convenient size for transportation to the factory. The blocks of turf are then chopped fine with spad 3s, chopping-axes, or a chopping'machinc, and well mixed with the fine coal. This mixture is placed in pits or large tanks, and hot coal-tar is run in and mixed'with it until a mass is formed which is liquid enough to be run into molds. The molds are made of any convenient size or desired form, and the core of cornstalks or other fibrous material is placed in them after being dipped into the hot coal-tar. The mixture of coal, turf, and tar is then poured into the molds so that it surrounds the core of cornstalks on all sides, leaving the ends uncovered. The thickness of the block of fuel surrounding the cornst-alks maybe varied according to the sizeof the core. The mixture hardens quickly, and when removed from the blocks is ready for use as fuel. The molds are preferably made rectangular in form and wider at the top than at the bottom. to facilitate their removal from the molds.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is- I 1. An artificial fuel consisting of a central core of fibrous material surrounded bya mixture of coal-dust, turf, and coal-tar, substantially as and in the proportions hereinbefore set forth.

2. An-artificial fuel consisting of a central core of fibrous material prepared by dipping it into hot coal-tar, surrounded by a mixture of coal-dust, turf, and coal-tar, substantially as and in the proportions hereinbefore set forth.

3. An artificial fu'el consisting of "a core of fibrous material prepared by dipping it into hot coal-tar, and a mass consisting of a mixture of coal-dust, chopped turf, and coal-tar, surrounding the sides of the said core, but leaving the ends of it uncovered, substantially The turf is the U as and in the proportions hereinbefore set I In testimony whereoflaflix my signature in 10 forth. presence of two witnesses.

4. An artificial fuel consisting of a core of cornstalks prepared by dipping them in hot FRANK S. DIMON.

coal-tar, and a mass consisting of a mixture of coal-dust, chopped turf, and coal-tar, molded about the sides of the said core, but leaving Witnesses:

G. WV. BULEN,

the ends thereof uncovered, substantially as I J. \V. HARRIs. and in the proportions set forth. 

